I Love the New Sky

Tim Burgess opens I Love the New Sky, his first full-blown solo album since 2012s Oh No I Love You, with Empathy for the Devil -- a song thats not only a punning salute, its a statement of purpose. The world may be a mess in 2020, but Burgess is choosing compassion over fear, a big-hearted notion for the age of Trump and Brexit. While I Love the New Sky isnt overtly political, there is certainly a message in how it presents a world without musical borders. Too young and too steeped in acid house to be a hippie, Burgess nevertheless comes across as an accepting, loving sort on I Love the New Sky, embracing everything from classic rock and elastic psychedelia to sunny electronica. As a quintessential crate digger, Burgess doesnt necessarily rely upon an especially contemporary collection of references, but the way he repurposes and reassembles old sounds is fresh, even modern. I Love the New Sky whirls through a number of ideas and styles, often juxtaposing different eras within the same track, always keeping his eye on inclusion and cheer. The essential generosity of Burgess spirit helps keep I Love the New Sky buoyant during the rare moment it drifts a bit too far into cheerful trippiness. And those moments are so rare, theyre hardly noticed. After all, its hard to be mad at an album that can find positivity in a time as weird and unsettling as 2020. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

マンチェスター・ムーヴメントの代表格、シャーラタンズのフロントマンによる5枚目のソロ作は、全曲みずからソングライティングを手掛け、遊び心に溢れた彼の表現者らしさが全開! コロコロと展開する曲調やストリングスの効いたアレンジから成る、ちょっぴりひねくれた楽曲の数々はサイケでありながらも甘くキュートなメロディーがクセになること間違いなし。軽やかに夏を彩る極上のポップ・アルバム!
bounce (C)柴田かずえ